Shuchi Talati, Ph.D.’s Post

What does the incoming Trump administration mean for the future of #SRM? DSG Founder & Executive Director Shuchi Talati, Ph.D. breaks down the stakes: the uncertainty, the risks, and the global ripple effects on climate governance. Read her take ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gWu-C6_w

In the face of escalating climate disasters, a second Trump administration adds a new layer of uncertainty to global climate leadership—and one of the most critical, yet overlooked, issues is solar geoengineering (aka #SRM). This is a crucial moment to bring SRM into the light for scrutiny, debate, and action. Read Shuchi Talati, Ph.D.'s analysis and join the conversation:  

We asked David Keith, Jane Long, and Jesse L. Reynolds, Ph.D. Highlights from their perspectives below. What are your thoughts? ☀️ David Keith, University of Chicago: It’s true that Trump’s energy and climate announcements are foolish and deliberately provocative, but it’s unlikely they will have a big impact. Global CO2 emissions are set to peak within the next few years. The US is important, but it’s only about 14% of global CO2 emissions. A presidential term is just four years, and climate is driven by cumulative emissions over decades. And finally, Trump’s executive orders can’t do much to change the trajectory of US energy investments. ☀️ Jane Long, Climate Scientist: Taking the US out of the Paris Agreement and promoting policies that increase our dependence on fossil fuels signal both a lack of commitment to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and an inability to responsibly manage climate change. As a consequence, these actions increase the controversies surrounding SRM research. A government that abandons its commitment to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions certainly cannot be trusted with the research of SRM. ☀️ Jesse Reynolds, The Degrees Initiative: The actions the Trump administration might take regarding SRM are highly uncertain. Despite speculation that opponents of climate action, such as Trump, might advocate for SRM – or are already doing so – these individuals often dismiss it as an unnecessary response to what they view as a non-existent problem... However, the MAGA coalition also includes figures like Elon Musk, whose strong belief in technology as a solution to humanity’s challenges could drive increased interest in SRM research and development. #SunlightReflectionMethods #SolarGeoengineering #Climate

The Executive Order from President Donald Trump, “Unleashing American Energy” marks a very significant shift in U.S. climate policy, dismantling many of the hallmark initiatives from President Joe Biden’s administration. Key changes include: • Section 4: Revocation of multiple Executive Orders and the abolition of offices central to U.S. climate strategy, such as the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the White House Office on Clean Energy Innovation, and the National Climate Task Force. • Section 6: Disbanding the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and instructing the EPA to consider removing the social cost of carbon from federal decisions. • Section 7: Termination of the Green New Deal and a pause on fund disbursements under the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, pending a 90-day review. These actions, while not a surprise, do represent a pivotal moment and a departure from global climate commitments. US Federal Government, The White House, https://lnkd.in/e_7VDzwn

🇺🇲 Time for U.S. state governments to put CDR on the map 🇺🇲 😧 Let’s face it: a Trump presidency creates a lot of uncertainty about what the next four years will mean for the world, for climate, and also for carbon dioxide removals (#CDR). For removals, it is safe to say that a lot more efforts will now shift to individual U.S. states. 🗺️ 1.5 years ago, I did an analysis of the CDR potential across all 50 U.S. states (see comments). Thankfully, the RMI has taken this to a whole new level by developing an innovative tool, the State CDR Atlas, designed specifically to aid state-level stakeholders in exploring CDR opportunities within their jurisdictions.     The Atlas categorises states' potential across eight different CDR approaches, taking into account each state’s: 🏗️ Infrastructure ⛰️ Natural resources 👷 Workforce 🔎 I did a quick analysis looking at CDR potential (using RMI's 0-3 CDR scale - 3 being states with the highest potential) alongside the 2024 election outcomes, interestingly there was no direct correlation between a state's political leaning and its CDR potential. Among the top-ranking states for CDR potential, there are both predominantly 🔵Democratic states (like California) and 🔴Republican states (like Texas). 🚜 So where does that leave us? We might still see a lot of action in Washington D.C. I’ve got particularly high hopes for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s role over the coming years. 📍 In the meantime, let’s get to work. We know which states hold the most promise. We have the tools we need. Time to put #CDR on the map! 📣 Special shout-out to all the folks who have been working relentlessly on states level policy. First and foremost the The OpenAir Collective around Christopher Neidl. Then Jason Grillo and Mike Robinson and their Pacific Coast Legacy Emissions Action Network (#PACLEAN) focused on CDR in the North-West. And, of course, Kyle Clark-Sutton, Isabel Wood, Daniel Pike, Rudy Kahsar, and Cara Maesano at RMI. ❓ What is your take? Should we double down on U.S. States and which ones in particular? #carbonremoval #USA #climatepolicy

𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? The big news today: Just 107 days before the U.S. presidential election, President Joe Biden announced he will not seek re-election, throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. What does this mean for Climate Action? 💡 The Democratic Party's commitment to climate action is strong. With over 500 Democratic delegates supporting Harris, the party is dedicated to environmental justice and green innovation. 💡 During his presidency, Biden's environmental agenda included investing billions in green infrastructure, establishing protections for land and water, and setting a goal for the U.S. to be net-zero by 2050. 💡 Ongoing projects reach from renewable energy initiatives to promoting policies that reduce emissions across industries, building low-carbon infrastructures, and training workers for the green transformation. What are next steps & impacts of Biden's decision? The stage is set for a transparent and orderly process to nominate a new candidate. Ex-President Obama and others have praised Biden’s decision, also reinforcing the party’s united front against climate inaction. Let's support leaders who prioritize our planet's future🌿💪 #ClimateAction #KamalaHarris2024

In light of last week's elections, I am terrified for the future of the U.S. and its standing. This article says not to worry too much. In regards to Trump pulling out of the Paris #Climate Treaty AGAIN, one quote from this article really struck me, “There’s bipartisan support for climate smart trade policy that is designed to promote U.S. production of clean energy, which we see is booming due to the investment from the Inflation Reduction Act, and ensure that domestic producers are not put at a disadvantage from producers that are emitting at higher levels.” — Dan Lashof, U.S. director of the World Resources Institute." This is all fine and dandy, but Trump also wants to vehemently abolish the IRA. Though no other countries followed suit last time Trump pulled the U.S. out of the #ParisClimateTreaty, it is still a giant impact on the world with the U.S. being one of the biggest polluters. Many congress members have seen the benefits the #IRA has brought to their states and towns, do you think they will speak up enough to keep it enacted? Will they go against Trump if it means jeopardizing their constituents' support, therefor their job? Will more and more states make beneficial environmental policies/offices illegal just as they did DEI policies and offices? What are your thoughts? Please tell me that I am wrong in my doom-and-gloom thinking!

🌍 Don’t forget the basics! Every unbalanced system (even the global one) strives to restore balance. Sometimes, this happens even when the system collapses since entropy tends to infinity (the Second Law of Thermodynamics).🌍 As President Donald Trump embarks on his second term, his energy and environmental policies significantly shift from the previous administration's climate agenda. On his first day, Trump declared a "national energy emergency," rolled back vehicle emissions standards, and initiated the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. These actions underscore a strong focus on fossil fuel production and a departure from global climate commitments. Key takeaways from Trump's new presidency's first days include: Rollback of Environmental Regulations: The administration has weakened fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards, revoked California's authority to set stricter emissions standards, and canceled methane emissions reporting requirements for oil and gas companies. These rollbacks pose challenges for future administrations aiming to restore or enhance environmental protections. Promotion of Fossil Fuels: Trump's policies prioritize fossil fuel production, with executive orders to accelerate fossil fuel projects and remove regulatory barriers. This approach could undermine the competitiveness of renewable energy sources and hinder efforts to combat climate change. Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement: By withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, Trump has signaled a clear departure from international climate commitments. This move could reduce the U.S.'s influence in shaping global climate policies and effectively undermine international efforts to address climate change. Conclusion: Trump's new presidency significantly challenges corporate transparency and sustainability compliance. The aggressive rollback of environmental protections and the emphasis on fossil fuel production may hinder progress toward global climate goals. However, it also highlights the need for resilience and innovation in corporate sustainability practices to navigate this new landscape. #Sustainability #CorporateTransparency #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalPolicy #RenewableEnergy

Yesterday, President Trump had issue a series of Executive Orders that deny the climate emergency facing United States of America in favor of a phony “energy emergency”. These performative acts show the pervasive influence that the fossil fuel industry will have in the United States over the next four years. But make no mistake, the global Sustainability Revolution is unstoppable. As was the case in 2017, withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement is a shortsighted abdication of leadership that will only serve to put our nation at a disadvantage. Clinging to the industries of the past instead of embracing the industries of the future may boost the short-term profits of fossil fuel companies, but it will come at the expense of the broader American economy - including American workers who risk being left behind. This is the first of what will be many attempts to ignore reality and try to stall the world’s unstoppable and irreversible move to a clean energy economy. But these proclamations are not reflective of our political and economic reality. These efforts to roll back progress – particularly the hugely popular clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act – will be met with opposition from both political parties. That’s why, in the coming weeks, months, and years, climate leaders and activists must not be deterred or distracted. From extreme weather disasters like Hurricane Helene and the still burning Los Angeles wildfires, to the growing number of climate refugees, to competitiveness in the global economy, the climate crisis will have profound consequences for the United States over the next four years. If the new Administration won’t lead on this issue, it is up to all of us. Now is the time for Governors, Mayors, business leaders, investors, and activists to put their heads down and do the work that will advance the climate solutions our nation and the world so urgently need. We were able to keep up the pace of climate action during the first Trump Administration, and it is urgent that we take up the mantle once again.

As the US 🇺🇸 election gets nearer, it is disappointing to see that climate action is seen as as one of the least important issues facing the electorate. Where do the two candidates stand on this apparently unimportant issue? Well, The Guardian says: Donald Trump’s climate and energy policies: “Trump has questioned established climate science, previously dismissing the climate crisis as “mythical” and an “expensive hoax”. He has also said that the warming climate is not necessarily responsible for making extreme weather events worse. On the campaign trail, he has summed up his position with the declaration: “Drill, baby, drill.” Kamala Harris’s climate and energy policies: “Harris has said unequivocally that the climate crisis is caused by human activity and represents an existential threat to the nation and the planet. “Climate programs: As vice-president, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to pass the Biden-Harris administration’s signature Inflation Reduction Act legislation that marked the country’s most significant effort yet to combat the climate crisis. The law made major investments in renewable energy as part of the administration’s overall aim to dramatically reduce the US’s planet-heating emissions by the end of the decade. But it also expanded planet-heating fossil fuels – something Harris touted in her September debate with Trump – and under Biden, Harris also presided over record-high US oil and gas production. “Harris has diminished her support for the progressive Green New Deal proposal and a fracking ban. She is a proponent of electric vehicles – though does not support a mandate – and backs clean-energy tax credits, and has promoted climate justice programs, focused on protecting “frontline” communities from the impacts of the climate crisis.” How to summarise: the unthinkable v the imperfect? Observations welcome? #SustainabilityLeadership SDG 13 & 17